COFFEE ADDICT: Bath. Society Cafe

Bath is one of the most visited cities in the UK. Every stone, every slab in the 29 km² that make up the city are recognised by UNESCO as being of world heritage status. 

But with around 5 million visitors a year, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the #wanderlust atmosphere and volumes of tourists in Bath. 

So how, when visiting Bath, can you experience the city like a local? How do you avoid the tourist traps, being cramped onto a small table with herds of other tourists, sipping a bitter coffee and nibbling a bland sandwich?

I found the answer in a cup of perfectly frothed cappuccino. 

Society Café is a Bath institution. With two sites across the city, the café is a meeting place for all kinds of locals - from trendy millennials, to mothers with their pushchairs, to local business executives getting their caffeine hit. 

The two branches of Society are incredibly central and perfectly located for setting off on a day of exploring the city. But, even so, both manage to feel amazingly intimate. Step through the charming (yet unassuming) doorway into a world of cosily stylish interiors, chilled music and wafts of freshly ground speciality coffee. 

Even better, Society Café is a true hub of local culture. For visitors to Bath wanting to head off the beaten tracks and explore the city's hidden secrets, there's no better starting point than a perfectly roasted coffee and chat to the friendly baristas in Society. 

The pictures on the walls showcase the best local artists and photographers, the cakes on the counter: the best local bakeries, the racks and shelves: the most creative local magazines - even the tables and chairs are a testament to the most talented local designers. 

And so I decided to explore Bath like a local - through what I found at Society. I visited their favourite lunch spot - the Nepalese street food café, Phat Yaks, just across the road. I explored the studio of Pepa Torres, the photographer whose incredible exhibition of long-exposure photography was on display at Society. I grabbed a deliciously flaky cranberry and pistachio pastry from Bertinet - the Bath bakery that supplies Society Café. I even stopped by the baristas' favourite magazine and independent print shop, Magalleria (a cornucopia of trendy publications) to pick up a copy of Cereal - a local magazine and beautifully presented bible of art and design which I'd fallen in love with after flicking through the shelves at Society. The journey introduced me to some of the city's most creative people - including an amazing new start-up, Pixie App.    

Over the years, Bath has received the seal of approval from the Romans, Jane Austen, and Nicholas Cage alike. The city remains as stunning and enchanting as ever - but to get a true taste of Bath like a local, a sip of a silkily smooth flat white at Society is the only place to start. 

Join the coffee trail to explore Bath and other cities and their coffee shops with me - just follow my instagram @thecoffeetrails_ !